‘The sheer vitality of his singing was irresistible: the sustained arching lines, ringing climaxes, shining verbal clarity, and a generous temperament undoubtedly place the Canarian artist at the forefront of the current crop of spinto tenors… Definitely a tenor to watch.’Opera Britannia

Those of you with long memories may well recall Jorge de León’s first Rosenblatt Recital appearance in 2006. Little-known at the time, de León was regarded as an exciting young prospect having won several major Spanish awards. Since then his career has taken off: in 2010 he successfully stepped in for an indisposed Marcelo Álvarez as Andrea Chénier at the Teatro Real and he has gone on to establish himself as a leading spinto tenor at the major European houses.

Jorge de León at his first Rosenblatt Recital in 2006, with Rocio Ignacio.

De León’s co-recitalist for 6 November is mezzo-soprano Belén Elvira. Elvira studied at the Conservatorio de Guadalajara with Angeles Chamorro and spent four years refining repertoire at the Teatro Madrid with Enza Ferrari. Now enjoying a burgeoning career in Spain, we are delighted to be presenting Elvira in her UK recital debut.

Hailing from the Canary Islands, de León (Tenerife) and Elvira (Lanzarote) are both very proud of their heritage. The opening half of their recital is dedicated to Hispanic song, with some Canarian flavour thrown in with songs composed by fellow islanders Blas Sánchez and Braulio Antonio García, whilst the second half consists of opera arias and zarzuelas. In the following clip, De León sings Braulio’s Tenerife.

Elvira and de León will enjoy accompaniment from distinguished pianist Juan Antonio Álvarez Parejo, who was Teresa Berganza’s accompanist of choice for the best years of her career.

The Endellion String Quartet will open their new Wigmore season sponsored by Lark Insurance. Beginning with one of Haydn’s most good-natured and warm-hearted works with a jewel of a slow movement. Schubert’s ‘Rosamunde’ quartet is deeply searching and inward and full of soul-stirring melodies which lodge in the memory. Mendelssohn’s D major masterpiece begins and ends in an explosion of joyous high spirits which frame touching and wistful movements; the whole piece bears witness to his consummately skilful quartet writing. The quartet’s season at Wigmore Hall continues on 16th January and 18th June 2015.